#26 Story: 笑顔 PART 1

Back in the city.

Himawari turned to her side, smiled as she looked at the guy playing bass. Remembering that very moment made her heart beats faster and her face turned slightly red. As soon as the guy turned his head to her, she quickly shook her head so that he won’t see her blushing.

That guy saw her blushing face and smiled.

***

The train stopped at Azabu station, passengers entering and exiting. Himawari walked out from the train with her trolley luggage and a tote bag. She has reached Tokyo, finally. She carefully walked towards the platform exit and looked the surrounding in the station. There are skyscrapers and people walking in all directions, minding their own business.

It has been almost 2 years from the time she left this city. Her family moved to the countryside. There, her father works as fisherman while her mother works in a seafood restaurant. Now that her younger twin brothers starting middle school, the family needs more money.

Himawari is determined to get a job in the city, just as her mother has wished her to do. Her mother had told her that she can go back to the city to find job and that her mother’s best friend could help her there.

She looked into the piece of paper on her hand; there’s address and a phone number written on it. She took out her mobile phone and start dialing the number.

“Hello. Kohama resident,” a young man answered the phone. The voice sounds familiar to Himawari that she was stunned for a few seconds. “Hello,” the male voice over the phone called again.

“Ah, hello. Is Mrs Kohama there?” she quickly regained herself.

“Oh, Mom’s out to the market. Any message you want to give to her?” the young Kohama asked. “Hurm, Himawari here. I believed that my mother has told your mom that I’m going to your house?” she asked back.

“Himawari!! Yes, Mom has told me about it! Where are you now? I’ll go pick you up!” He is clearly excited about Himawari’s coming to his house. She then told him that she’s at the Azabu train station and he went out to fetch her.

—

“Welcome, welcome!” Ryota simply couldn’t hide his happiness. He helped Himawari with her luggage into the house.

By the time they arrived in the Kohama’s resident, Mrs Kohama has returned home from the market. She went to the front door to greet Himawari.

“Look at you! You’ve gotten prettier and… slimmer!” She hugged her tenderly, with motherly love. Mrs Kohama then asked Ryota to bring Himawari to the room that was prepared for her upstairs.

Himawari was very thankful that the Kohama are willing to let her stay with them before getting her own place to stay in Tokyo. After Ryota left her room, she sat on the single bed. She looked outside the window and see the house next door. The house that her family used to live. Back then, her room was exactly opposite of Ryota’s room. So it was very easy for them to communicate with each other.  They were always together too.

Inside the room next to where Himawari is, Ryota was laying down on his bed. There are moments when he’ll smile sheepishly and then stop himself. He shook his head vigorously and sat up. A heavy sigh was let out, as if he just realized the reality. He had been having crush on Himawari since middle school. They had been together since forever, since childhood. So, he thought he would never fall for her at all.

But he did. He realized that he care for her after she told him that she liked a boy in their class. He denied his feeling for her though he secretly hoped that the relationship won’t work out. Unfortunately, he didn’t had the strength to fight for his love. So he kept it for himself. Without her knowing it, he’ll protected her with all his might. Just as he did during their middle school’s graduation day.

Then, when she told him that she will be moving away, he wished he had grabbed her hand and hugged her tight. Never letting her go out of his sight. Remembering all the memories that he wished he had did more than just watching her go away, Ryota let out a heavy sigh again.

Part 2